Posts by George Ramos15

Raymond Anderson4 said:You mean Alonso. I'm right there with you on that one. There's just no arguing with the facts here.

Hahaha, that’s easily the best comment here.🤣🤣🤣😂😂

stormybadger8 said:Are you really that sure about that?
Did Rosberg really have the same shot at overtaking Webber as Bottas did against Button?

By lap 39, he was already breathing down Hamilton's neck, and by lap 44, he had already blown past him.
And he was trailing by that much, too? About 9 seconds until Webber. Only 12 laps left to go...
Even if he hadn't been let through, wouldn't Hamilton have eventually caught up? He was consistently running laps a full second faster than Webber anyway. If they'd just let him pass, he probably would've ended up right on his tail regardless.

Rosberg clocked his fastest lap on lap 44, while Webber hit his on lap 45. Webber was actually faster by 0.080. Honestly, I really doubt they caught up to him as easily as you're suggesting.
Take a look at everything that happened around lap 40. Honestly, I don't think the Mercedes cars stood a chance...
Check out this latest FIA document regarding the driver standings chart. Is everyone keeping up with the current rankings?
EDIT: My bad, I didn't realize you were linking something similar. Sorry about that. I see what you mean now. Honestly, it doesn't look like there was much of a chance there... Webber wasn't exactly pushing it...

Tyler Bennett5 said:Valtteri Bottas was 100% convinced yesterday he’d overtake Jenson Button.

We had a pretty similar conversation during last year's race at the same track, though the main players back then were Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.

Similar? Maybe. But not quite. Rosberg couldn't pass anyone. Seriously, anyone at all...

stormybadger8 said:If I remember correctly, all this nonsense and the general trend of penalizing every little thing was introduced after this...

Actually, it was introduced earlier, so all this complaining feels a bit ridiculous. If I recall correctly—and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong—Sebastian Vettel was in a similar spot during that race as Fernando Alonso, yet he didn't file a protest. That’s why this whole complaint seems a little pathetic to me...

stormybadger8 Asks:
So, I have to wonder... is it actually true?
What’s actually good about a driver having no way to defend themselves?
What kind of F1 racing is this, anyway? It feels like the guy behind can just breeze right past because the driver in front has already used up every possible defensive maneuver in the book. Is that even really racing?🙄
Why do you have to penalize every little thing? Is that really necessary? 🙂 Don't you dare try to defend that driving style... It would be even better if you just snatched the KERS right out of his hands since that was his last real trump card. Of course, why stop there? You might as well throttle his fuel flow too.
Honestly, who cares? If you see a Mercedes-powered car in your rearview mirror, just get out of the way already. 😍
Maybe it’s time they introduced a rule where a driver has to pull over immediately once the car behind them gets within one second? Wouldn't that make things much smoother? 😍

It’s pretty clear we're seeing some friction between teams lately. We saw how much Ferrari struggled against Renault, and then we saw Renault running into similar issues with Ferrari during the Australian Grand Prix. It feels like everyone is fighting everyone else, doesn't it?
It looks like Mercedes is really struggling to find their footing lately, especially when you compare them to how McLaren and Williams Racing are performing. Is anyone else seeing this gap widen?

So, we have two identical engines and no overtaking... what can you really expect?
With all these restrictions on engine performance and fuel flow, isn't it inevitable that everyone ends up on roughly the same level by the end of the season? It looks like we're heading toward total parity.
So, if we look at the current gap between Ferrari/Renault and the leaders, we're talking about a margin so wide that overtaking becomes almost impossible. At this rate, instead of actual racing, we’ll just be watching a parade.🙄

Watch Australia—there have only been 29 overtakes so far this season, and Malaysia might even have fewer (we're still waiting on that data). Compare that to last year, when the average was around 52 overtakes per race. That’s practically double, isn't it?

F1 isn't the only series that needs a little help like this—I mean, IndyCar has their version of "Push to Pass," right? Personally, even though it’s totally artificial, I think DRS is fine. Why not let the driver trailing have an advantage, and then give the leader a chance to reclaim their spot using that same DRS once they've been overtaken? At the end of the day, F1 has been leaning into artificial elements for a long time now anyway.
Let's just wait until around race 8 or 9 of the season before we decide if the racing this year actually has any substance or not.
I'm with you on the penalties—they’re honestly ridiculous. It’s fine to give the guy behind a boost with DRS, but shouldn't the leader actually have a chance to show some teeth, like Schumacher did against Rubens back in 2010?🙂

stormybadger8 said:I mean, come on, he’s an F1 World Champion. Is there even a question about whether he knows how to drive or if he can overtake?🤣
Who would actually think it makes sense to claim they don't know?😂
We're talking specifically about this current season and these brand-new cars... so honestly, what does anything that happened before 2014 have to do with any of this?

Based on what we’ve seen so far, overtaking seems to be down by roughly 50-60% compared to the same races last year. It’s not like the other drivers suddenly forgot how to make a move overnight, right?😉

It’s pretty obvious that dealing with these new chassis and Power Units is a whole different beast than it used to be. It's just much harder now, isn't it?
It’s also pretty tricky dealing with KERS these days. Since the software handles most of the heavy lifting now instead of the driver, that old-school manual control is basically gone. There isn't a button anymore where the driver can decide exactly when, where, or how much KERS to deploy. Instead, the software manages the output, and the engineers are usually the ones calling the shots from the pit wall, telling the driver which mode to switch to at specific moments. Isn't it wild how much more automated everything has become?

So, basically, it feels like there’s almost no KERS left to use for overtaking tactics. Between that and the fact that DRS isn't nearly as effective as it used to be, you end up with exactly this kind of result. Is anyone else seeing this?

First off, it’s actually a good thing we aren't dealing with KERS tactical games anymore. Most drivers were just using it defensively whenever they saw a prime overtaking opportunity anyway. As for DRS, I think the changes this year are an improvement; making it more effective is exactly what's needed to boost those overtakes. In my opinion, the real issue lies with engine power. The Mercedes engines are going to breeze past people because they simply have that extra punch. We already saw that play out in Australia, whereas the Renault cars just won't be able to compete like that. It’s pretty straightforward: Sebastian Vettel isn't going to overtake Nico Rosberg if the Renault is weaker. Even if they have the right tires and Vettel manages to catch up to Rosberg, he won't be able to make the move because he lacks the straight-line speed. It is what it is. Of course, the opposite could definitely happen.

stormybadger8 said:In those opening laps when the engine is pushed to the limit and you aren't worried about saving anything...
But honestly, you could count the overtakes in this race on one hand. Most of them were just the Williams Racing and McLaren drivers making moves after starting way further back than they should have. It’s almost a miracle that Williams Racing and McLaren managed to pass Marussia, Caterham, Lotus, or Red Bull Racing on track, especially since Red Bull Racing was already proving to be quite a tough nut to crack...

And then later on, you basically only see overtakes like that move by Fernando Alonso on Nico Hulkenberg, which wasn't even easy. Even with the tire advantage and being about two seconds faster per lap, Fernando still had to get creative instead of just blowing past Nico Hulkenberg in the DRS zone...

Also, I don't really get what part of the Lewis Hamilton situation is supposedly proven?
I mean, Lewis Hamilton hasn't made a single true overtake this season—literally zero.😉
Who has Lewis Hamilton actually overtaken, besides lapped cars or drivers on completely different strategies who were about to pit anyway?🤷

Do you really think anyone is foolish enough to try defending against Lewis Hamilton on fresh tires when they know they have to pit in a lap or two?
If you're talking about Nico Hulkenberg, he isn't crazy enough to chase Lewis Hamilton and lose a position during the pit stops because of it. It would have been five times smarter for him to just let Lewis Hamilton through and use the DRS in that same lap right before pitting.

I was talking about overtaking in the Pirelli era, not specifically this year. Isn't it a bit premature to draw conclusions based on just two races? We're lucky Lewis Hamilton has been around since 2007 and not just since 2014. For those of us watching F1 who want to see wide-open racing, we've seen plenty of overtakes from him. Plenty. But who can he actually overtake right now when he's currently eating his own teammate alive in the best car on the grid? Of course, he's leading. Once Sebastian Vettel gets to the podium—which should happen soon if Renault tunes their engine just a little more, especially with that incredible aerodynamics they seem to have again—you'll start seeing those overtakes.🙂.

stormybadger8 said:You guys are still missing the most fundamental thing about F1.☕
Catching up isn't the same as pulling ahead.😉
A Valtteri Bottas was actually faster.Just look at how much Jenson Button picked up the pace once they started closing in on him...
And look, even if he was trailing behind Felipe Massa, you have to admit that Valtteri Bottas's lap times weren't actually dropping off that much.😉
I agree... if we're talking about whether Valtteri Bottas stood a chance, he might have had some, but Felipe Massa? He didn't stand a chance at all.

Even if Williams Racing is faster—say, by 0.5 seconds per lap compared to the car ahead—is that really enough to pull off an overtake on its own?
It’s honestly a huge question mark: how would Mercedes even fare if they were sitting right behind Red Bull or Ferrari? Could they actually hold that position?
Does it feel like this year's regulations regarding automatic KERS deployment and reduced wing profiles during DRS have made overtaking much tougher? It seems like you need a significantly larger speed delta now compared to previous seasons just to make a move.

Let’s be real—Sebastian Vettel might have had the pace to keep up with Nico Rosberg, but his chances of actually overtaking him were basically zero.
It’s the exact same story with Fernando Alonso and Daniel Ricciardo out front, and honestly, the same goes for Nico Hulkenberg too...
I don't need much lecturing here. What really matters is anything that provides a genuine edge. Isn't the biggest factor always going to be the massive difference in tire age and degradation?
A tiny gap of 0.200 or 0.300 per lap definitely isn't enough. Is even a full second actually sufficient? It’s questionable.
Let’s be honest, Fernando Alonso didn't just breeze past Nico Hulkenberg like that—especially considering he had a massive advantage of about... what? Is it just me, or is that gap between 1.5 and 2 seconds? Around the track.😉

It really makes you wonder what would have happened if the roles were reversed. I’m honestly not even convinced that someone like Nico Rosberg would have jumped ship from Red Bull Racing to Ferrari that easily just to find himself sitting behind them.

What can you really make of that fuel consumption graphic? You have to wonder how accurate it actually is, considering how questionable those sensors can be. I don't see any other way they'd be calculating the data besides relying entirely on them.😁
If the sensor failed before the race even started, then where on earth did Daniel Ricciardo's fuel consumption numbers come from?
As far as I know, they checked Daniel Ricciardo's fuel flow using the exact same method they used back in Australia.🤣
So, if Daniel Ricciardo had the edge over everyone else back at the Australian Grand Prix, how is it that he doesn't have it this time around? Especially when you consider he's up against Sebastian Vettel and the rest of the crew who actually had functioning sensors? 😵

With Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel, that Mercedes would perform incredibly well—it’s already been proven.
That’s just not true. Based on what you're saying, it sounds like you think every single overtake only happens because of tire degradation or a massive lap time difference. That’s simply not the case. A huge number of overtakes actually happen in the opening laps when everyone is running on essentially the same tire age. If a driver is half a second faster per lap and the car ahead doesn't have DRS, isn't it obvious? If they have the skill and are willing to take the risk, they’re going to make that move—especially on a track like Indianapolis Motor Speedway with two DRS zones.

Richard Walker38 said:I don't even watch our local idiots.

Look, they aren't just idiots; they are—forgive my language—completely brain-dead. Novak still thinks Kimi had some broken suspension yesterday. It took them five whole minutes to realize that... The sheer amount of mistakes and lack of race prep is just awful. Two more races left, then I’m happily moving on to just using the streaming services. $12 You can count me out.

P.S. Maybe they could bring in Pilatus and TBD for some balance in the booth, and then have a whole Knights Templar setup with Renata Sopek in the studio.🙂

brightwolf48 said:Exactly. I’ve never once gone out of my way to bash Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher, Mika Häkkinen, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Kimi Räikkönen, or Lewis Hamilton in any of my posts. What really bothers me is seeing people tear down anyone in Formula 1 just because they didn't come from a massive family fortune or have huge sponsors backing them. Everyone has their preferences, sure, but sometimes one driver is simply better because they know how to squeeze every bit of potential out of the car they're given at that specific moment. It’s that simple. They all possess talent, provided the car actually suits their driving style. Look at how Ross Brawn gave Jenson Button a car that perfectly matched his approach, which ultimately secured the title. Is Jenson a total hack? I don't think so, but he isn't the greatest of all time either. There have been drivers much better than him who never won a championship, just as there are lesser drivers who might have more titles under their belts. On a completely different note, Robert Horry has more NBA rings than John Stockton, yet we wouldn't put them in the same conversation...

Like a mailman and Chris Bosh🙂

brightwolf48 said:Honestly, I can't deal with it. I try to watch Formula 1 as a legitimate sport, though unfortunately, it feels like that's becoming harder by the day. You read these forums and start wondering if you're the crazy one. People posting stuff about some "Finnish fraud"—as if getting a penalty for a collision is a crime, or how someone finishes last after driving an entire lap to the pits on a rim is somehow a disgrace. But what really gets to me? Calling a driver a "fraud" just because he tried to win with broken suspension, risking a crash that eventually happened because the part snapped. This guy is a world champion who has proven himself with every single team he's ever driven for. I'm talking specifically about Kimi Raikkonen. He proved himself at Sauber, he would have won the title if not for that crash at McLaren, he took the final championship for Ferkan, and did incredible work at Lotus—yet now he's labeled a "Finnish fraud." Forget this forum and these discussions; 75% of the time, it's just nonsense.

I feel the exact same way. It’s pointless because everyone knows Kimi Raikkonen is an incredibly talented driver. They also know that when Fernando Alonso is being lapped, he isn't exactly a maestro. If people only call him a maestro based on that, then they're just insulting him, which is silly because Alonso is great too. Look, I’m a fan, so like 90% of the people here, I’m not perfectly objective, but there are certain facts that even a blind man could see.

brightwolf48 said:Look, I’m not talking about Vettel here—I'm definitely not a fan of his—I’m talking about the sport as a whole. If he enjoyed it, that’s on him. I’m looking at this from a purely competitive standpoint. I don't obsess over any specific team or driver; I just want to see great racing. I usually find myself rooting for the underdog, so my previous post was really just about not celebrating someone else's misfortune (I view this penalty for Daniel Ricciardo much like an injury in other sports) just to help my favorite driver get a better result. Maybe I'm just looking at the sport through the wrong lens?🤷

Honestly, sorry if you felt attacked. That wasn't my intention at all. I actually feel terrible for Daniel Ricciardo, even though I'm not exactly a die-hard follower of the Red Bull Racing era.

@stormybadger8/">@@stormybadger8 You better get a thread started for the next race. Time is ticking 🙂. The second weekend is right around the corner 🙂

brightwolf48 said:But where’s the real thrill in winning when nobody can actually push you? Do you really think guys like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, or even legends like Ivan Lendl, Stefan Wilander, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, or Goran Ivanišević felt that rush by beating someone who was injured, or just walking away with a trophy because their opponent had to retire? I doubt Ivanišević would be celebrating a win at Wimbledon on the Riviera if Patrick Rafter just handed him the match due to an injury...

Winning it all in 2011 was definitely a high for Sebastian Vettel, though let's be honest—his competition back then didn't have much to throw at him. Not that it's his fault, of course.

These penalties feel pretty pointless (regarding #3). Why not just penalize Red Bull by stripping them of constructors' points instead? The team made the mistake, not the driver. The driver has already been punished enough...

Joshua Scott said:Lewis Hamilton was incredible today; he showed true championship form. Being nearly 20 seconds ahead of a teammate in the exact same car is just fantastic driving, and honestly, he could have likely extended that lead even further. It looks like this car is a perfect match for him since it’s gentle on the tires and fuel while remaining lightning fast—and we all know how much Hamilton respects those technical nuances.

Vettel was solid, though nothing out of the ordinary. Little Ric seems to have massive potential; he’s such a quick driver, reminding me of his days back in Formula Renault.

Alonso is nothing special right now, probably the most overrated driver on the grid. You have to wonder how much faster he actually would have been against Kimi if he hadn't suffered that punctured tire at the start and lost all that time—not to mention losing momentum afterward. Plus, the Ferrari is just so slow on the straights that even with DRS, they can't pull away from the backmarkers.

I might be totally off base with everything I just wrote. Kudos to you, Joshua Scott.
I suspect Kimi lost his motivation today; perhaps it would have been smarter to pull him in early to save the engine and gearbox.
I also think when Hamilton doesn't need to push, he knows how to drive smart and preserve the car (just look back at Spain 2012), which is why he used less fuel than Rosberg. And remember, Rosberg is generally the smoother driver, yet he wasn't tucked into anyone's slipstream like you can at Williams to save a little extra. To me, Hamilton looks incredibly motivated, and it shows. He helped develop this car, and you can see he's happy in it; more results will follow. Rosberg only really stands a chance if something goes wrong for Hamilton or if Hamilton fails to finish (though he is a great driver). Otherwise, this is how races should end.
As for Alonso, he's giving it what the car allows, but he doesn't seem as fierce or determined as he was back in 2012. Maybe frustration is setting in, and he's just tired of fighting with an inferior car. That said, the current Ferrari is closer to the front than it was at the start of the 2012 season. We might see a turnaround later this year.
I think Vettel, driving the best aero package (even if it's slightly behind the Mercedes as a complete package), has a real shot throughout the season. Once Renault gets closer to Mercedes—though I doubt they'll catch them—it’ll be a total toss-up. Vettel has a very talented and hungry teammate who is clearly eager to prove himself; I just hope these setbacks don't kill his drive.

dustycyclist19 said:Vettel and Ricciardo are just 2 seconds apart
But Alonso and Raikkonen are 60 seconds ahead.
What an absolute driver.🙏🙏🙏

Let's be real here—if you're looking at it that way, Vettel is clearly dominating Ricciardo... and not even close to beating Alonso Kimi.

Simply brilliant, Daniel Ricciardo

And why aren't you just calling him a Santander driver instead of Maestro 6? It seems much more realistic, especially since you already refer to him as a Shellov driver, doesn't it?🙂

Jason Campbell70 said:Man, what a driver. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏:

I mean, even with a broken front suspension, Grand Maestro still managed to pull up right in front of that Finnish scam. ☕

Do you really think they'd let a driver onto the track with a snapped suspension? I highly doubt it... It just doesn't work like that.

The rain really threw a curveball during Qualifying 2.